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Overview of Middle East Water Resources

Springs

Ajua Spring Baqouriyyeh Spring Barta'a Spring Ein Gedi Spring Farod Spring Fari'a Spring Hammam Maleh Spring Kanar West Spring Qeisiyeh Spring Zerqa Spring Um El Turab Spring Click here for a larger map in a separate window Click here for a larger map in a separate window
Location and name of selected springs and ground-water basins
Springs have been used for thousands of years as an important source of water supply in the region. Springs are places where groundwater discharges through natural openings in the ground and are common in areas of cavernous limestone or basalt. Springs may vary greatly in the volume of water they discharge; some springs are so small that they occur only as seeps where water oozes slowly from the aquifer, whereas others, such as the Dan Spring, are large enough to form the headwaters of large streams. Springs flowing from water-table aquifers tend to have small, extremely variable flows and are influenced greatly by climatic conditions. Such springs may cease flowing during periods of low precipitation. Springs issuing from confined aquifers have larger and more consistent flows, and show less influence from climate than do water-table springs.
WHAT IS A MEDIAN?
Like an average, the median describes the center of a data set. The median is the number that half of the values are greater than, and half are less than. For streamflow data, the Concen-median is more representative than the average, which is biased by very large or small values.

Springflow is controlled by the size of the recharge area, the difference in altitude between the spring opening(s) and the water level in the aquifer, and the size of the opening(s) through which the spring issues. In addition, climatic conditions and pumping of wells located near the spring may influence flows.

Auja Spring
Baqouriyyeh Spring
Barta'a Spring
Ein Gedi Spring
Farod Spring
Fari'a Spring
Hammam Maleh Spring
Kanar West Spring
Qeisiyeh Spring
Zerqa Spring
Um El Turab Spring

Flow characteristics of selected springs are presented on the following three pages in graphs showing annual flow volume and statistical summaries of monthly flow volume based on the period of record. Quality of spring water is indicated by graphs showing chloride and nitrate concentrations.

Picture. See caption on right. Click for a larger image in a separate window. The spring at Jericho has served as a source of freshwater for thousands of years.

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Water Data Banks Project,
Multilateral Working Group on Water Resources,
Middle East Peace Process
Overview of Middle East Water Resources
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